The best phones for kids in 2025

Whether or not to give your kids a phone is a tricky decision for every parent. The fact remains that our kids are growing up in a technology-driven world. Instead of viewing a phone for your child as a negative thing, you can gain peace of mind with the ability to track their location and contact them directly no matter where they are.

While the decision to get your kid a phone can be complicated, we’ve broken it down for you to make the most informed purchase.

Also: The best kids’ tablets

What is the best kids’ phone right now?

While there are some phones on the market made specifically for kids, other smartphones provide basic and affordable features that could be useful to your child. ZDNET rounded up the kid-friendly phones and found the best overall pick to be the Apple iPhone SE, but we also included devices from Samsung, Gabb, and more.

The best phone for kids in 2025

Apple’s iPhone lineup spans a wide range of models at varying prices. The most inexpensive iPhone is the iPhone SE. Apple revamped the iPhone SE in 2022 with the same processor as the more expensive iPhone 13 series.

I went hands-on with the iPhone SE, and the end result was an iPhone 13-like experience in a phone half the price.

The phone features a 4.7-inch display and a Touch ID home button that your child can use to secure their iPhone with a fingerprint. The rear camera takes photos that are nearly as clear and crisp as higher-end iPhones, while the front camera provides a solid FaceTime experience.

Review: Apple iPhone SE: You simply can’t find a better phone at this price

In addition to excellent hardware at a reasonable price, you’re also getting access to Screen Time parental controls, Find My, Family Sharing, and the rest of Apple’s software services. For a family that’s heavily invested in Apple products, the iPhone SE is a great starter phone for kids.

Parents on Reddit who purchased the iPhone SE for their child praised the parental control options and how easy the phone is for young kids to use.

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The Moto G Pure is an incredibly affordable phone that offers a basic experience. It’s a good starter phone for children learning how to take care of a device for the first time.

Both of my own kids started with a Moto G model in order to prove they could take care of a phone without breaking, losing, or leaving it somewhere. The Moto G Pure has a decent camera setup, 3.5mm headphone jack, large battery that’s helpful for kids who love playing games, and a large display.

However, there are two potential downsides to the G Pure: storage and speed. With 32GB of internal storage, you’ll most likely want to add a 512GB microSD card to make room for pictures, videos, apps, and games.

Performance will be slower than what you’d find on a standard iPhone and other phones on this list. However, verified customers on Amazon said that for a kids phone, the performance, battery life, and value is good enough as a starter phone.

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Samsung is typically known for its quality, high-end smartphones. Since LG recently exited the smartphone business, Samsung has begun to improve and iterate its entry-level phones.

Also: The 5 best Samsung phones

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G looks and works just like a high-end Galaxy S22, but it only costs $160. It also features a 5,000 mAh battery, which is powerful enough to survive a full day of use for most people — even kids who love to play games. Plus, verified customers say that the 48-megapixel camera and rear-facing cameras are solid.

With only 64GB of internal storage, you’ll probably want to add more, though there’s a built-in microSD card slot that allows up to 1TB of additional storage.

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The Gabb Phone 3 Pro was made specifically with kids in mind with kid-centric features parents will approve of. These include 100 Gabb-reviewed, parent-managed apps, but no social media or internet, as well as clean music streaming from Gabb Music, and Gabb Messenger, which filters text messages for safer communication. Other third-party apps can be additionally downloaded, but app downloads are entirely controlled by the parent. This is an excellent option for parents who want to give their kids some more independence but protection from many parts of the internet.

Through the phone’s GPS tracking, parents can also create “Safe Zones” where they can be notified when their child leaves or enters a designated area.

Parents say that on the outside, it still looks and feels like a “grown-up” smartphone, with specs like a 6.6-inch Infinity-V display, Quad Core camera with wide, ultra-wide, macro, and depth lenses, and crisp 1080p at 30fps video capture.

The Gabb Phone 3 Pro uses the Verizon network and an Android OS.

Gabb Phone 3 Pro tech specs: Display: 6.6-inch | Processor: Octa-Core 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 processor | Memory: 3GB | Storage: 32GB | Rear cameras: Quad Core camera with wide (50MP), ultrawide (5MP), macro (2MP), and depth (2MP) lenses:| Battery: 5000mAh battery | Cost: About $200

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The Google Pixel 6a is one of the most secure phones you can buy for your child. The Google Tensor processor’s security core works with the Titan M2 security chip to make the phone resistant to hacking, tracking, and spying.

Review: Google Pixel 6a

I went hands-on with this device and found that the phone doesn’t need to have the best parts and pieces to provide the best experience. In my mind, the 6a is nearly identical to the 6 Pro.

It also uses a fingerprint reader to unlock, so only you, your child, and authorized users can access the phone for calls and texts. The phone is also IP67 rated for water- and dust-resistance. One Reddit user noted that “the great thing about the 6a for a kid is it is basically immune to rain and even accidentally being thrown into a pool.”

With a 24-hour battery life and quick-charging feature, you can stay in touch with your kid all day.

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The Bark Phone looks and feels like the Samsung Galaxy A13, but it is perfect for younger kids due to its advanced parental content monitoring features, GPS location tracking, and more. The phone’s starter plan comes with no apps, no browsers, and no social media, so your child will only utilize the text and call features of the phone.

Parents can approve or deny contacts on the phone, so you know who your child is messaging with, and the phone even scans text messages and sends you alerts for potential issues. One Reddit user noted that the alerts feature is big plus, since it lets you know if there’s anything concerning without having to constantly check in.

As your child grows older, you can easily upgrade to the advanced plan and add in access to apps and games while keeping the same phone and the advanced monitoring features.

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What are the tariffs in the U.S.?

The recent U.S. tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.

CNET: Tariff Pricing Tracker: We’re Watching 11 Products You Might Need to Buy

Smartphones are among the most affected by the new U.S. tariffs, with devices imported from China and Vietnam facing steep duties that could raise retail prices by 20% or more. Brands like Apple and Google, which rely heavily on Asian manufacturing, may either pass these costs on to consumers or absorb them at the expense of profit margins.

The tariffs could also lead to delays in product launches or shifts in where and how phones are made, forcing companies to diversify production to countries with more favorable trade conditions.

Right now, it looks like some tech may be exempt from the issued tariffs, but since it’s always changing and developing, we are keeping an eye on it and will update you on the latest.

Also: Tariff exemptions for electronics offer a break for tech – but not for long

We deem Apple’s iPhone SE the best phone for kids because it has long software support and offers the best performance you can get in a phone under $200. Battery life and camera performance are just bonuses.

Here’s how the best phones for kids compare on price, screen size, and operating system:

Phone for kids	Price	Screen size	Operating system
Apple iPhone SE	Starts at $157, refurbished	4.7-inches	Apple
Moto G Pure	$125	6.5-inches	Android
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G	$299	6.5-inches	Android
Gabb Phone 3 Pro	$200 paid in full or $8.33 per month	6.6-inches	Android
Google Pixel 6a 5G	$360	6.1-inches	Android
Bark Phone	$240, plans start at $29 per month	6.6-inches	Android

Deciding which phone is right for your kid depends on a few factors, including age, overall cost, and which operating system you prefer. Once you know those details, you can narrow down your search and make a choice based on personal preference.

Choose this kids’ phone…	If you want…
Apple iPhone SE	The best all-around kids phone that will be supported for years and it features a good camera and excellent battery life.
Moto G Pure	A budget-friendly starter phone for children that’s affordable, has a large display, and a good battery.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G	A good mix of affordability and performance for parents with a solid battery life your kids will love.
Gabb Phone 3 Pro	A budget-friendly smartphone. It comes with parent-approved apps and parental controls, and doesn’t allow social media or internet browsing.
Google Pixel 6a 5G	A secure phone with great cameras, quick charge capabilities, and a solid battery life.
Bark Phone	A phone for littler kids. It only allows calls and texts and has advanced content monitoring and parental controls.

Buying a device for your child is much different than buying a device for yourself. Be sure to consider the following factors before making your final purchase.

Privacy: Keeping your child’s information and data is of the utmost importance with any tech device, so choose a phone with privacy features like encryption and parental controls so you can contact your child if need be.
Battery life: A phone serves little purpose if it’s out of battery, so look at devices with long battery lives so you don’t have to constantly recharge.
Price: These days, smartphones can range dramatically in price. Since this will likely be your child’s first phone and they simply need something more basic, find something more affordable.

I’ve reviewed phones for more than a decade. Not only have I tested these devices myself, but I’ve experienced my own kids reaching the age of needing their first phone. All five of these picks are something I have trusted my kids to take care of.

ZDNET does extensive hands-on testing of phones, including ease of use, and paying attention to specs like display, battery life, and overall experience while using the phone. For products we recommend, we write a product spotlight review that we update periodically with new features and pricing information.

For the phones we have not gone hands-on with, we do extensive research into different products and brands, taking into consideration user reviews — good and bad, competitor analysis, and more.

Both Apple and Google have their own respective solutions for adding parental controls to an iPhone or Android phone. For iPhone users, you’ll want to enable Screen Time on your child’s phone. For Android phones, you can set up Google’s Family Link.

Also: The 5 best parental control apps

Both options offer you control to schedule when the phone can and can’t be used, which apps can be installed, and even who the child can talk to.

Sticking with your current carrier and adding a line to your account is going to get you the best deal on a new phone. However, if you want to buy a phone outright without getting locked into device payments, you can always start with a prepaid carrier like Republic Wireless or Visible. The plans are cheap, and you’re not committed to paying the carrier back for a phone if your child loses it.

If you opt to add a line to your account, most carriers allow you to mix and match plans. For example, you can have your number on a plan that allows unlimited data usage at full speed, and then give your child a plan that forfeits data speed when the network is busy. It saves you money while still giving your child access to everything they need a phone to do.

Yes. If you set up Screen Time on an iPhone, you’ll also set up Apple’s Family Share feature that includes Find My. Find My is not only what you use to track down a lost iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but it’s also used to keep tabs on friends and family members, including little ones.

Google Family Link offers the same functionality, or you can add your child to Google Maps’ Location Sharing feature.

Also: Did you lose a device? Here’s how to track it

Are there alternative phones for kids worth considering?

In this day and age, there are nearly countless phones for children available. If you’re looking for less costly options, we recommend checking out refurbished iPhones and other used devices off of Swappa, or a similar second-hand website. The iPhone 12 is the oldest device currently sold by Apple, but it’s $599 and comes with an older processor and arguably a worse camera than the iPhone SE. However, it has Face ID, a larger display, and comes in tons of colors.

As for Android devices, you really have your pick. From well-known brands like Samsung and Motorola to lesser-known device makers like TCL and OnePlus, the list of phones that are worth considering is long.

As for smartwatches that replicate a phone-like experience, Verizon’s GizmoWatch 2 is also a respectable option.

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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com

The best phones for kids in 2025

What is the best kids’ phone right now?

The best phone for kids in 2025

What are the tariffs in the U.S.?

Are there alternative phones for kids worth considering?

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